Megan McGuigan:

Seeking Judy

I try to shop less and keep re-wearing, and borrowing from friends. It might sound like a crazy thing for a designer to say, but I don't often buy clothes anymore.

The easiest way to look at it is: we need to stop over-consumption.

When you are buying, look at the fibre. I really would push people to do that. You can have high-end brands that are using plastic and blends, instead of 100% wool. So, be aware of what you're buying. Whether on the high street or in a charity shop, know your fabrics and know why they're a certain price. Maybe they'll last you longer or they'll be warmer or softer.

My fabric source is a mill in Northern Spain, which has a closed-down warehouse with thousands of threads stored there. They let designers come in and take them for very cheap so it's sustainable and cost-effective. There's a lot of merino wool there, which is really soft and a lot of it isn't dyed. That's why I went back to a more neutral palette with my brand Solstice. After showing the collection in Copenhagen for Fashion Week I met someone from Donegal Yarn, who sponsored my most recent collection, so - at Dublin Fashion Week - I showed a mix of Spanish dead-stock and then Donegal spun yarn.

Sustainability is an integral part of my design process. If people could veer towards using natural fibres and cut out polyesters it would be a huge step in the right direction.

Seeking Judy's ready to wear range can be found in George's Street Arcade, Dublin

It’s time to Reverse the Trend. Recent research from the Environmental Protection Agency has revealed we should be doing more to make sustainable decisions when it comes to fashion.

With the ongoing climate crisis, it’s never been more important for us to think about our purchasing habits more consciously. It’s time to buy less, choose well, and look after our clothes - to get the most out of them.

Thinking sustainably presents us with the opportunity to be more inventive, more thoughtful, and more ethical in what we wear. Borrowing clothes from friends, going to swap shops, buying from charity shops, and renting clothes are just some of the innumerable ways in which we can rewrite the narrative when it comes to being on trend and looking fashionable, while also having fun and being creative!

We spoke to influencers, local musicians, designers and artists about sustainability - and what it means to them. Read the full feature in the Hot Press Annual 2025